Last week, we power-nerds who have hardcover collections of Jack Kirby’s The Demon and Alan Moore’s Saga of Swamp Thing sitting on our shelves received quite a tidbit of good news: Guillermo Del Toro, the jolly Mexican director of acclaimed genre films such as Pan’s Labyrinth was in talks to direct Heaven Sent, an adaptation of DC Comics’ more supernaturally-inclined superheroes.

Flash forward to now, when the news of a “supernatural Justice League” got a bracing dose of reality. While the film has not been completely disavowed, Guillermo Del Toro has publicly stated that he is not in talks to head such a film – instead, the rumor likely stems from his fond regard for the source material.

MTV Geek has posted an excerpt of a yet-to-be-released interview with Guillermo Del Toro in which he is asked whether he is involved with the rumored Heaven Sent. Del Toro responds that he is in fact not formally involved with any Justice League film. Del Toro clarified:

‘When somebody asked me about “Justice League”…I’m not involved in “Justice League.” I am discussing…I’ve been discussing with the fans and I’ve been very, very open about how much “Swamp Thing” was key when I was a kid.’

As was discussed last week, Heaven Sent sounds like a loose adaptation of the currently-running Justice League Dark comic book. Dark features team-ups by characters such as roving spirit Deadman, magician prodigy Zatanna Zatara, sarcastic seer Madame Xanadu, and blue-collar British sorcerer John Constantine. If the rumors prove true, Heaven Sent could also see appearances by Swamp Thing and The Specter, who are not directly involved with Justice League Dark but are definitely from its corner of the neighborhood.

Though this most recent news may pour cold water on fantasies of an adaptation of DC’s most famous sorcerers and monsters, it actually leaves off on an encouraging note. Though he discounts his current involvement with Heaven Sent, Del Toro certainly seems game to try his hand at it. He mentions his great love for the classics of the spooky DC Universe wing – particularly Alan Moore’s groundbreaking 1980s run on Swamp Thing. The director mentions that he has wanted to bring these characters to film throughout his career, but has never had the opportunity to do so.

Uncolored panel from Alan Moore’ s ‘Saga of Swamp Thing.’

If Del Toro’s upcoming Pacific Rim knocks the ground out from under us (as it did back at Comic-Con 2012), then he may have the directorial clout to get a property as eclectic as Heaven Sent/Justice League Dark made. Given that no one has ever done a proper film adaptation of the many thrilling stories of DC’s magical universe (Keanu Reeves in Constantine got a “C” for effort and little else), the prospect of a director like Guillermo Del Toro bringing his talent to bear remains an exciting one. It may remain a pipe dream, but Del Toro’s admitted interest will keep this particular dream alive for the time being.

Heaven Sent is only theoretical at the moment, but if it does see production it will have to wait until after Guillermo Del Toro’s next film, Pacific Rim, opens on July 12th, 2013.